{{Short description|New Zealand triathlete (born 1961)}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=November 2016}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}} {{Infobox sportsperson | name = Erin Baker | honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=NZL|MBE|size=100%}} | image = | alt = | caption = | birth_name = Erin Margaret Baker | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1961|05|23|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Kaiapoi]], New Zealand | death_date = | death_place = | height = | weight = | country = New Zealand | sport = [[Triathlon]] | show-medals = yes | medaltemplates = {{MedalSport | Women's [[triathlon]]}} {{MedalCountry | {{NZL}} }} {{MedalCompetition|[[ITU Triathlon World Championships|ITU World Championships]]}} {{MedalGold| 1989 Avignon | Elite }} {{MedalCompetition|[[ITU Duathlon World Championships]]}} {{MedalGold| 1991 Cathedral City | Elite }} {{MedalCompetition|[[Ironman World Championship]]}} {{MedalGold| [[1987 Ironman World Championship|1987]] |Individual }} {{MedalGold| [[1990 Ironman World Championship|1990]] |Individual }} {{MedalSilver| [[1988 Ironman World Championship|1988]] |Individual }} {{MedalSilver| [[1991 Ironman World Championship|1991]] |Individual }} {{MedalSilver| [[1993 Ironman World Championship|1993]] |Individual }} }}
'''Erin Margaret Baker''' {{post-nominals|country=NZL|MBE}} (born 23 May 1961) is a former New Zealand [[triathlon|triathlete]]. She won many world championship and Ironman titles.
==Early life== Baker was born in 1961 in [[Kaiapoi]], New Zealand. Upon the suggestion by her mother, Mary, Baker began running competitively at age 15 and showed ability right from the start. "I remember the first day Erin competed in a cross-country race. I was waiting for her to come in thinking God, she won't be very pleased because she hasn’t done very well. In fact, I missed her crossing the finish line a quarter of an hour earlier, in first place."<ref name="Restricted_US">{{cite book |last1=Palenski |first1=Ron |last2=Romanos |first2=Joseph |title=Champions: New Zealand sports greats of the 20th century |year=2000 |publisher=Hodder Moa Beckett |location=Auckland |isbn=1-86958-813-4 }}</ref>
Baker is one of eight children. Her siblings include [[Philippa Baker (rower)|Philippa Baker]] (New Zealand rower and 1991 & 1994 Halberg award winner) and Kathy and Maureen who were both national titlists in swimming and aerobics.<ref name="Romanos 2006">{{cite book |last=Romanos |first=Joseph |title=New Zealand’s top 100 sports history-makers |year=2006 |publisher= Trio Books |location=Wellington |isbn=0958245584 }}</ref>
==Competitive career== Baker was originally coached by [[John Hellemans]] but controlled and developed her successful career by self-training, "I was self-trained. I just trained as much as my body would handle, and that was a shit load. I trained and trained, and I trained more if I had time. I never got injured so I would often do more in case somebody else was training while I was resting".<ref name="training">{{cite web |url=http://www.slowtwitch.com/mainheadings/interview/erinbaker.html |title=Interview by Dan Empfield |publisher=Slow Twitch |access-date=8 April 2008 |date=October 1999 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140424084326/http://www.slowtwitch.com/mainheadings/interview/erinbaker.html |archive-date=24 April 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
In 1981 she was convicted of throwing explosive devices while protesting during the [[1981 Springbok Tour|South African Rugby team tour of New Zealand]]. This act prevented her from entering the [[United States]] for several years, restricting her from competing in any American competitions.<ref name="Restricted_US"/> Baker was also known for her protests at the [[Ironman Triathlon|Hawaii Ironman]] competitions when she rebelled against the notion of the winner of the men's division receiving a car and the women's division winner receiving nothing for her efforts. She voiced her opinions on numerous occasions and as a result was well known as a controversial athlete.<ref name="controversial">{{cite web| url=http://www.insidetriathlon.com/article/70004/smackdown-who-are–the-top-three-female-triathletes|title=SMACKDOWN!: Who Are the Top Three Female Triathletes of All Time?|publisher=Inside Triathlon|access-date=2008-04-08 |date=2008-02-27}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>
She finished her triathlon career in 1994 with a record of 104 wins from 121 triathlons entered.<ref name="Romanos 2006"/>
Baker was named "Triathlete of the decade" by American magazine ''Triathlete''. The magazine commented on her success by saying, "We’ve stopped trying to figure Erin out, we just accept her as the best female triathlete that ever lived".<ref name="Restricted_US"/>
In the [[1993 New Year Honours (New Zealand)|1993 New Year Honours]], Baker was appointed a [[Member of the Order of the British Empire]], for services as a triathlete.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=53154 |date=31 December 1992 |page=30 |supp=2}}</ref>
==Results== * 1984 entered and won her first ever triathlon in Sydney * 1985 won the world middle-distance championship in Nice, France * 1986 New Zealand Ironman female winner (9:26.3) * 1986 Won the world middle-distance championship in Nice, France (Disqualified 8 hours post race due to rule infractions) * 1987 New Zealand Iron Man female winner (9:17.3) * 1987 Winner of female division at Ford Ironman championships in Hawaii (shattered previous course record) * 1987 Winner of the world short course title * 1988 Won the world middle-distance championship in Nice, France * 1988 Winner of the world short course title * 1988 Won World Championships (Olympic distance) in Canada * 1988 Winner of the world short course title * 1989 Named New Zealand Sportsperson of the year at Halberg awards * 1990 Won the Women's demonstration [[Triathlon]] at the [[1990 Commonwealth Games]]; competed in Women's 10,000 m in National championships * 1990 Winner of female division at Ford Ironman championships in Hawaii * 1990 New Zealand Ironman female winner (9.38.3) * 1991 Won the World Duathlon title * 1994 New Zealand Ironman female winner (9.54.1) * 1994 Retired as a professional athlete * 1995 Inducted in the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame * Winner of 9 Ironman titles
==Post triathlon career== Baker now lives in [[Christchurch]], New Zealand, with her husband and fellow triathlete [[Scott Molina]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Rose takes step on the comeback trail |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/sport/9592600/Rose-takes-step-on-the-comeback-trail |access-date=3 March 2024 |work=[[Nelson Mail]] |date=9 January 2014}}</ref> Together she and Molina (nicknamed Skid) have two children.
Baker has also served as a councillor on [[Christchurch City Council]] (resigned January 2004<ref>{{cite web |last1=Robertson |first1=Max |title=Resignation of councillor Erin Baker |url= http://archived.ccc.govt.nz/council/proceedings/2004/february/strategyfinance16feb/resignation.pdf |publisher=[[Christchurch City Council]] |access-date=7 October 2020 |date=26 February 2004}}</ref>), and has served on [[Canterbury District Health Board]] and on the boards of [[Lancaster Park|Jade Stadium Ltd]] and Christchurch and Canterbury Marketing Ltd.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cdhb.govt.nz/communications/documents/pdf/2001-02_cdhb_full_ar.pdf |title=Canterbury District Health Board report 2002 |access-date=8 November 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060926160854/http://www.cdhb.govt.nz/communications/documents/pdf/2001-02_cdhb_full_ar.pdf |archive-date=26 September 2006 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}} * Heidenstrom, Peter (1992) ''Athletes of the Century: 100 years of New Zealand track and field'' (GP Publications, Wellington) {{ISBN|1-86956-044-2}}
==External links== * {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061029225404/http://vnews.ironmanlive.com/holdingcell/2001/april-2001/new-zealands-wonder-woman |date=dmy |title=New Zealand's Wonder Woman}} * [http://www.ccc.govt.nz/elections/2004/candidateinformationbooklet2004.pdf 2004 Christchurch Election results]{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} * {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927231704/http://www.powerupdates.com/clients/halberg/pages/a_article.asp?pid=0&cid=-630935410&aid=789227824 |date=dmy |title=Halberg Award}} * {{sports links}}
{{S-start}} {{S-ach|aw}} {{S-bef|before=[[Susan Devoy]]}} {{S-ttl|title=[[Halberg Awards#Winners|New Zealand's Sportswoman of the Year]] | years=1989}} {{S-aft|after=[[Karen Holliday]]}} {{S-break}} {{s-bef|before=[[Mark Todd (equestrian)|Mark Todd]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Halberg Awards#Winners|Halberg Awards – Supreme Award]] | years=1989}} {{s-aft|after=[[Peter Blake (sailor)|Peter Blake]]}} {{S-end}}
{{Footer Duathlon World Champions women}} {{Footer Ironman Triathlon World Champions women}} {{Footer World Champions Triathlon Women}} {{Footer New Zealand NC 3000 m women}} {{Footer New Zealand NC 10,000 m women}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Baker, Erin}} [[Category:Ironman world champions]] [[Category:1961 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:New Zealand female triathletes]] [[Category:Sportspeople from Christchurch]] [[Category:Sportspeople from Kaiapoi]] [[Category:Duathletes]] [[Category:Commonwealth Games competitors for New Zealand]] [[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1990 Commonwealth Games]] [[Category:Christchurch City Councillors]] [[Category:New Zealand Members of the Order of the British Empire]] [[Category:Canterbury District Health Board members]] [[Category:20th-century New Zealand sportswomen]] [[Category:21st-century New Zealand women]] [[Category:New Zealand Athletics Championships winners]]